This article was reviewed by Jeanine Hattas Wilson. Jeanine Hattas Wilson is a Professional Painter and the President of Hattas Public Murals, Inc. With nearly 20 years of experience, Jeanine specializes in creating, overseeing, designing, and painting murals. Jeanine holds a BA in Advertising from Marquette University and a Studio Painting Minor from The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. She has studied at The Atelier Artien in Paris, France, Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, and under renowned artists such as Robert Liberace, Michael Siegel, and William Cochran. To date, Hattas Public Murals has painted nearly 5,000 commissioned works of art in homes and commercial and public spaces.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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Though the style you choose for your graffiti letters is ultimately up to you, there are a few standards that go for all graphics. Method one outlines a simple, foolproof way of creating vivid, stylized graffiti letters; method two takes on the same task in a more complex, skillful manner. Pencil at the ready!
Steps
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Draw the outline sketch for the letters in pencil.[1]
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Add actual lines for the graffiti designs on the letters. Most graffiti designs are connected, intersecting or on top of one part of the other.[2]Advertisement
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Fill in the basic colors.[3]
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Add darker tone on the graffiti colors.
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Add more details by drawing a design on the graffiti. You can choose any design that you want. Metallic, balloon, fluffy, gummy, and so on. I chose drawing cracked lines on the sample.
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Add the cast shadow to complete the graffiti.
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Draw the outline sketches for the letters.
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Add the actual lines for the graffiti designs on the letters. Draw pointed lines intersecting the others.[4]
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Erase the unnecessary lines.
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Fill in the basic color.
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Add the highlights and shadows.[5]
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Instead of adding shadows, choose a bright color that is contrasting the colors of the letters. Graffiti colors almost always have contrasting colors. However, you can also use colors that complement each other.
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Add more designs on the background to finish the graffiti.
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I draw a transparent graffiti with just a 2b pencil, hb, and 2h pencil?PhishtacheoCommunity AnswerOf course you can, just use some creativity and you can make it with pretty much any medium, even paint programs.
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QuestionAre there any other ways to add color to my graffiti?Community AnswerSure there are, just use the pencils, pens, or any other coloring utensils that you think would look good on your drawing.
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QuestionHow do I draw the word "JohNde"?PhishtacheoCommunity AnswerIf you're new to graffiti and can't think of a way to write it, just go on Google Images and search for a graffiti alphabet and write your word like that.
Video
Reader Videos
Tips
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You should look in comics or on the web for help on these things because they have really expressive words and backgrounds.[6]Thanks
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Never trace and say it's yours.Thanks
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You can learn from others but never copy someone else's work. That's the number one rule of tagging.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
- Consider doing graffiti letters on paper, canvas, or legally designated walls instead of unauthorized public spaces.
- Practice drawing the letters smoothly without going over the lines to build confidence in your abilities.
- Use bright colors for letters so they stand out, especially if painting a public mural.
- Start with simple bubble letters and build complexity over time. Master basics first.
Warnings
- If your teacher or some snitch sees your tag on a wall, fence etc., and on your binder than you can get in a lot of trouble. Only graffiti where it is permissible on school grounds etc. If there is nowhere to do so, lobby the principal and school board for a place. It's a good exercise in asking for community projects.Thanks
- Be careful if you draw these in class.Thanks
- If anyone starts copying your exact copy, ask them to draw it while you watch them.Thanks
- Ask permission first, if you are thinking of drawing graffiti on someone else's property or possessions.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://artincontext.org/how-to-draw-graffiti-bubble-letters/
- ↑ https://artincontext.org/how-to-draw-graffiti-bubble-letters/
- ↑ https://artincontext.org/how-to-draw-graffiti-bubble-letters/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/UYr4CmV7r2w?t=515
- ↑ https://artincontext.org/how-to-draw-graffiti-bubble-letters/
- ↑ https://www.theartstory.org/movement/street-art/
About This Article
Reader Success Stories
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"I thought this was easy, and happy to see more than one design! Although I just picked a few ideas, I was still able to come up with my own graffiti style."..." more